Grief, Grace, Gratitude: Words From A Mother’s Heart

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By Kim Denison

It has been a long time since I wrote an actual letter, but my son Evan would expect nothing less. That is how he lived his life, with his words and connections to others. Below is a summary of a few of the many emotions I have encountered since 
Evan’s passing.

Grief

July 23, 2023, is the day I met grief in its rawest form. Honestly, I feel I can write an entire book on this subject, but for now, I will try to express in a couple paragraphs. Grief has not left my side since that day, the day Evan passed away. The reality for me as Evan’s mother and his biggest fan is that it has not gotten any better or subsided in any way. Simply put, I am learning to live alongside grief. We have learned to coexist, but I understand it will show up like an unexpected visitor at the most random of times and without any notice. You cannot fix grief, rush it, or get rid of it, it seems to me you can only accept it and carry it with you. I have learned to do that with the sole purpose to carry on Evan’s legacy. 

Losing Evan will be the deepest pain I have ever endured. How he died will always hurt, no notice, no goodbye, just a cold call from a Pennsylvania State Trooper telling me my eldest son Evan died at the scene, and my youngest son Connor was wounded and on his way to the trauma unit three hours away from me. That is the moment I met true grief.

Grief feels like you are living a double life, one where you pretend everything is okay just to function, and the other where your heart is silently screaming in pain while being completely shattered.

Our family has learned grief is a highly individual emotion. It does not follow a prescribed path or timeline, and there is no specific order or process. The experience of losing Evan has allowed me to be more vulnerable, express my feelings outwardly and connect with others, both friends and strangers, on a deeper level. I heard the saying once, “Loss is something we will all encounter if we are lucky enough.” It seems odd but true as it is the one emotion we can all relate to in our lives.  It is not a path I wish for anyone to endure, but it is the one I have been given and I will do my best to make Evan proud.

Grace

Grace for me is the gift we have been bestowed by each one of you, as well as many others that I do not even know. Whether it was the first few weeks when we were literally unable to breathe or leave the house, or the first few months where we remained numb to the outside world but tried our hardest just to show up. We were provided grace and compassion to just be, no definition of what we had to do or where we had to be and no expectations by those of you who tried to let us know you care and were thinking of 
our family.

Kindness, patience, and understanding showed up at our doorstep every single day by many of you, whether we were out in the community trying to function or home in our pajamas trying to breathe, you were there for us. Many of you did not know what to say or what to do and we honestly had no idea what we needed, but you provided a level of grace and compassion that we will forever be thankful for.

Gratitude

Gratitude is defined as the readiness to show appreciation for and return the kindness. Our family is truly grateful for all of you for the cards, letters, notes, emails, calls, texts, donations, flowers, plants, meals, thoughts, prayers, hugs, and heartfelt tears — just to name a few that come to mind. I am still trying to find my purpose amidst the pain, but I can state with certainty that I would not be here if it was not for all of you and the love and support our family felt daily.

Sadly, death reminds us all how to live. I am grateful for the 22 years I spent with Evan and the lessons he taught me and every person he interreacted with. I am grateful for all of you, our family, friends, neighbors, and community that showed up in any way they could. 

For those of you lucky enough to have met Evan or learned of his life through us, please go out into the world and share the love, light, and understanding he brought into the world. Evan’s famous signature greeting, “Pause, Breathe, and Smile,” sums up how he approached life and a kind reminder to us all.

We will continue to honor Evan’s legacy of music, leadership, and compassion for others. To learn more, scan the QR code ( left) or visit the Evan M. Denison Memorial Fund — Cavalier Marching Band. Please watch the memorial award video, as it truly speaks to his character and impact 
on others.

With love, Kim Denison

Watermelon Pickers’ Festival: Gem of Music, Community, and Family Fun

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By Jennifer M. Lee

To the delight of thousands of people, the 20th annual Watermelon Pickers’ Festival returns to the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds this September 6 and 7. As a long-time attendee of and photographer for the festival, I sum up my experience there as “the happiest place on earth.” The music is exceptional and diverse, the vibe is unparalleled in its friendliness and calm organization, and the venue of the fairgrounds works and plays great. We all miss being riverside on the Shenandoah, but are grateful to have another space in Clarke County that works so well for performances, camping, good food, fun merch vendors, and ease of access. 

David Van Deventer, a.k.a. “fiddly Dave,” is the managing partner of Shepherd’s Ford Productions, who organizes and hosts the festival. He is also the fiddle player for the festival’s host band, Furnace Mountain. Furnace Mountain has been playing together and thrilling audiences for over 
30 years.

I asked Dave some questions about this year’s festival, and this is what he had to say.

JL: A few thousand people sure are happy to have the festival back this year. What compelled you take a year off and what compelled you to do it again?

DVD: Thanks, Jen! I took a year off because I was not feeling inspired. I have to say it felt good to take a year off, and I’m refreshed and excited to be doing it again this year! 

I want to thank two longtime friends and music enthusiasts, Katie Priest and Stacey Sinclair, for encouraging me to give it another go and helping with the organization this year. 

JL: Oh, and it’s the 20th one!

DVD: Yes, 20 years is a good long time. Many kids have grown up with this festival, and many dear friends have passed on. We were very fortunate to be able to host Loretta Lynn and Dr. Ralph Stanley while they were still with us. 

JL: Tell us about the festival this year. How many acts? Workshops? Kids activities?

DVD: This year will feature 20 different musical acts with a mix of bluegrass, country, and folk music. There is a music camp on Thursday for folks interested in honing their skills on an instrument or voice, and plenty of kids activities, dance workshops, a band contest and activities for the whole family on the schedule. 

JL: This festival is known as being very family friendly. How important is that to the whole vibe of the festival?

DVD: Yes, family friendly is the vibe we are going for. 
We have always curated the event towards families that want to camp and immerse themselves in music 
and community. 

It’s great that you can go to a concert any night of the week, but a bluegrass and traditional music festival that offers camping, kids activities, contests and dance workshops is a different experience.

In this day and age, I believe it is more important than ever for folks to be able to get off their screens and spend time together with the options of camping, sharing food, dancing, playing and learning music, or going from campsite to campsite to hear local musicians jamming.

JL: How do you find the musical acts that perform at the festival? You always have some very well-known performers mixed with local musicians and those lesser known. What’s your process for curating the music 
and musicians?

DVD: There are a lot of music festivals out there, and being both a musician and event organizer, I have experienced many of them from the patron and performer side. I make observations and try to adapt to changes as they come. A lot of acts we have had in the past, like Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Charley Crockett, Rhiannon Giddens, and many more have gone on to become so popular that they are out of the price range of a smaller festival like ours now. 

I try to keep an eye out for those artists on their way up. I try to have some musicians that speak to me personally and I just really want to see. I try to have artists that have a connection to this area and it’s rich bluegrass and old-time music history. Then I try and have a balance of new and old, local and touring, male and female, progressive 
and traditional. 

JL: What is the pay range you pay acts to appear at WPF? 

DVD: In the 20 years of doing this, our headliner acts have ranged anywhere from $5,000 to $65,000.

JL: Any acts you want to give a special shout-
out about? First-timers? Return 
old favorites?

DVD: I am excited about a young mandolin player named Wyatt Ellis. Wyatt is 15 years old and a student of Chris Henry, a local mandolin player and member of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band. Wyatt is on his way up in the bluegrass world, and it will be fun to watch and see where he goes. The bluegrass community can be very supportive of young artists on their way up. 

The Wyatt Ellis band’s full set is on Saturday, and his mandolin workshop is earlier that day. I wouldn’t be surprised if we also see Wyatt sit in with all female bluegrass band Della Mae as well as the Saturday night headlining act, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band. 

I am also very excited about the return of Carsie Blanton and Miko Marks. Carsie is one of my (and my daughter’s) favorite songwriters. And Miko Marks blew the roof off at the festival in 2022 when she opened for Little Feat. 

I’m also excited about Lovettsville, Va., native Lillian Hackett. Lillian is a 17-year-old singer-songwriter who was featured on American Idol this past year. Lillian will play a solo set on Friday and be part of a honky-tonk band with various local talent that will include a two-step dance workshop before the performance 
on Saturday. 

I’m looking forward to hearing Larry Keel with their new and exciting ensemble called Electric Larry Land! You won’t want to miss Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder and local musician Les Thompson featured in John McEuen and the Circle Band.

And I’m excited to see for the first time the Po Ramblin’ Boys, who are up for the IBMA best entertainer award for 2024.

JL: How many volunteers work the festival? Do you need some this year? 

DVD: We will have about 60 Volunteers this year. I think we are full with volunteers this year, but you can check on the volunteer page of the website.

JL: At the end of festival weekend, what are you happiest about? What gives you the greatest joy in running 
this feat?

DVD: Successfully gathering people and knowing that we helped provide a space for the folks in the community to spend time with old friends and maybe make a few new ones is the greatest reward. 

JL: Anything else you’d like to add?

DVD: Yes. This event would not be possible without the support of the local community of sponsors, staff, and volunteers and Shepherds Ford Productions team Mark Burgess, Trevor Creany, Morgan Morrison, and Frazer Watkins, and the Clarke County Ruritan.

The 20th annual Watermelon Picker’s Festival will be held at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds in Berryville, Virginia on September 6th and 7th, 2024. Tickets prices range from $60 – $70 for a one-day pass, with add-ons like camping, early arrival, and workshops costing extra. Visit watermelonpickersfest.com for info on all the offerings and to get tickets. We hope to see you at the Festival!

You’ll be happy; promise!

At the County Fair: The Barn Area: Building Character and Nurturing Youth

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By Hope Cather

While you’re at the Clarke County Fair, be sure to visit The Barn Area. Good things abound there: Good times for the over 150 exhibitors; good vibes for exhibitors, volunteers, and families; and —very important to us all — good news for the future of our community youth can be seen there. The Ruritan Fairgrounds’ barn area is home to the largest interactive educational program in 
our county.

People unfamiliar with how the barn area is set up to work think it’s only a place where farm children show their farm animals. In Clarke County, the barn area is so much more than that. Community children between the ages of 4 and 19 are welcomed by Ruritan, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America volunteers to learn about responsibility, integrity, and the rewards that come from hard work. They are encouraged to find out for themselves what 4-H or FFA projects interest them, and then supported in their efforts to excel in them. Winning is only a byproduct of their efforts; strength of character is the Ruritan Club’s goal for them. 

Their efforts do not start on the first day of the fair. Many months before the fair, our local 4-H/FFA advisors and volunteers guide their members on how they should start their project and work through it. The Ruritans support all of the exhibitors and volunteers by offering our fairgrounds as a supportive area for meetings, fundraisers, and educational programs. All of the events are geared towards including our community in their journey. Once their months of preparation are completed, the main event starts happening. 

By June of each year, all project animals and exhibitors have been registered for the fair. Emails are sent explaining guidelines and requirements. These include: the project must be under the constant care of the exhibitor; marketing of their projects must take place in a timely manner; and volunteer hours must be worked before showing their animals. If participating in one of the non-market animal ownership programs, regular visits to Harvue Dairy, special attention to the particulars of being a good equestrian, or practices with their Dairy Goat mentor must be implemented. Their months of work are then rewarded with a week at 
the fair! 

Their first day of at fair is full of cleaning, setting up, meetings to plan the week’s schedule, and meeting up with all of their friends to spend a week together in the barn area. Many volunteers are right there with the exhibitors offering guidance and support. The week is full of bringing their animals into the ring to showcase both their exhibitor skills and their 
projects’ excellence. 

Of special importance are the many fun and educational events throughout the week. All of this culminates in the large auction on Friday night. Here the market animals are auctioned off with the proceeds going directly back to the exhibitor. These funds are often used to finance their future projects, much like a small farm business. At the end of the exhibitors’ show years, their accumulated “wealth” can be used for college, starting their own business, or giving them a leg up to start their adult life. 

There you have it! That barn area that has been the center of the Ruritan Fair for years is not just where you can go see the animals. It’s also about a community agricultural education program that builds character in our future citizens, encouraging them to value hard work and to volunteer in their community as adults.

Come visit The Barn Area!

For more details and information about how you can support this wonderful program or to meet us for a tour any time of the year; feel free to email us at president@ccruritanclub.org.

Clarke County Fair is the Place to Be for Live Music 

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By Rebecca Maynard

It is almost time once again for what many consider the county’s best week of the year — the annual Clarke County Fair. The always popular event runs Sunday, August 11 through Saturday, August 17 at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds, located at 890 W. Main St. in Berryville. A collection of livestock exhibits, carnival rides, and farm, garden and other exhibits, the fair events convey the county’s love of agricultural and 
home interests. 

Live music is an important part of the fair, and this year three talented bands will take the stage.

Winchester-based band Souled Out will perform on Sunday, August 11 at 12:30pm. The high-energy dance band has opened for or performed with national recording acts such as Tower of Power, Clarence Carter, and The Average White Band. Also notable is a performance at The Rock and Soul Revue at Nissan Pavilion, which included appearances by Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, and The Average 
White Band.

“We haven’t played a local fair in quite a long time, so it’ll be nice,” said Robert Shiley of Souled Out. “We don’t get a chance to play locally a lot,  and it will be nice to be outdoors and play for local people.”

Blue Ridge Thunder, a bluegrass band from the Shenandoah Valley, will perform Saturday, August 17 at 2pm. From hard driving bluegrass standards to bluegrass gospel greats, the band is versatile and provides solid vocals 
and instrumentation.

“We’ve played at fairs, but never here, and we’re looking forward to it,” said Steve Good of Blue Ridge Thunder. “We’re a traditional bluegrass band from the Valley, and a lot of other musicians say musicians from the Valley have their own certain style.”

Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band will perform Saturday, August 17, at 3:30pm. The American roots band formed in West Virginia, with an authentic mountain sound that has earned them a reputation as “mainstream bluegrass at its best” (Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine) and “the heartbeat of American roots music” (The Bluegrass Jamboree). 

“We are looking forward to performing for Clarke County,” said Ed McBee of Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band. “I’m excited as their booking agent to be able to get them booked there.”

The full schedule of events can also be found at the fair website, www.clarkecountyfair.org, and leaflets are available at most businesses in town. “Ride all night for $30” is held Monday through Wednesday. The fair’s many other events include SAWJAC demonstrations, figure 8 demolition derby, Berryville Baptist Rascals puppet show, animal shows, gas and diesel dirt drag, pig scrambles, car and truck show and 
much more.

“The fair is an opportunity for the Clarke County Ruritan Club to give back to our community,” say event organizers. “It is one of our county’s most cherished and celebrated events, where new memories are made and old memories are shared.”

At the County Fair: Country Traditions With New Additions

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By Hope Cather 

When a group of the Clarke County Ruritans had their first fair meeting in late 2023, ideas were flying around the room. From the beginning, it was evident that everyone was enthusiastic to include some new additions. It was also evident that everyone wanted to respect long-time country traditions and continue to bring the hometown feel to the fair. This group of diverse volunteers followed their priorities and: Oh! What a fair this is going to be! Let’s all be grateful to the many volunteers who pull this off every year.

The music is back! Souled Out, Blue Ridge Thunder, and Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band will grace our stage during fair week. The pig scramble is back, too. One of Clarke’s great families helped make it happen, and Monday night will be full of pigs and kids. 

After many years, we will hear bingo numbers called at the fairgrounds. Sheriff Sumption will be calling, and prizes will be flowing. If cornhole tournaments are your thing, the bags start flying Saturday morning — and there are great payouts. 

Old fashioned children’s games will be held Wednesday and Saturday; both days have discounted rides. Wednesday children get in free. Everyone wants our community children to remember their county fair for years to come. The pageants are going to be full of area children and teens showcasing their beauty both inside and out. Stop by Sunday evening to see Virginia’s 2024 Rodeo Princess get crowned.

The livestock education program is full of shows, farm animals to see, and games that are open to both our 4-H children and community children. It’s a wonderful chance for children to check out our barn area and investigate the programs there. So much is going on there now with renovated buildings and expanded programs. All community children are welcome to jump into barn area programs this year — so they can be showing at the fair in 2025. Large animals and small, owned animals and borrowed; an area can be found that fits your family. 

The track area is going to be so full of energy every night during the fair week. Nobody loves revving engines and action more than Ruritan President Brad Broy, and he has big plans in place for everyone’s entertainment. The third year of Dirt Drag Racing is back with trucks, speed, and plenty of dust on Tuesday night to thrill everyone. One Demolition Derby is not enough for this county. There are going to be several on Thursday night with plenty of crashing and banging. Becoming more popular every year, garden tractor pulling gets real and messy. One will see this action is a lot better than mowing the lawn. A children’s pedal pull takes place on Sunday. It’s free to come to watch, and could be a great way to start interested children out. 

In true Clarke County Fair tradition though, over-the-top action goes down Friday and Saturday night. Horses, cowboys, and bulls will fill the arena Friday night, with Miss National Rodeo 2024 presiding over the rodeo. Horses will be back on Saturday night, but they will be under the hoods of the powerful trucks and tractors participating in the East Coast Pro Pulling Event. The energy is unbelievable watching the machines tear up the track competing to see who can pull the most weight.

The schedule is full and there’s more than you can imagine to do while at the fair. To top off its greatness, the fair food is like no other around and the evening chicken barbeque dinners are famous. 

Make sure you go through the schedule and plan to attend as many days as you can. The www.clarkecountfair.org website is full of information, and the Facebook account is updated constantly.

The Cow, the Butterfly, and I

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By  Diana Kincannon

Like our neighbor’s gentle cow,
I want a little wander now
and then to any spot wherever,
finding pleasure
in surprising places.

No more time for straight or narrow!
I am become a butterfly,
an all-aflutter jitter-buggy
butter-cuppy butterfly,
dipping, sipping here a sweetness
then another, over there.

Clarke Monthly August 2024

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Community Cat Alliance, Humane Treatment for Feral Cats and Kittens

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by Lydia Mahan

A friend of mine once said, “They make the world go round.” He was talking about volunteers. In fact, they do a lot to pick up the slack, the extra pieces that often get
left behind.

I’m a volunteer and I can certainly attest to the fact that I pick up a lot of “extra pieces.” I volunteer with a charity organization called Community Cat Alliance (CCA). Our mission is Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR, in Frederick County, Virginia. It can be challenging work. Without question, it is rewarding work.

We are a small group of men and women who have a passionate calling to help those who cannot speak for themselves, namely feral and abandoned cats — and often, their kittens, many of whom are in desperate need of medical care. We go into the field and work with caretakers who are doing their best to feed and shelter colonies of cats, or one or two cats. The need is the same; all of these cats and kittens need to be spayed and neutered to stop the pervasive over-population of cats and kittens in our area.
We are in the midst of kitten season, and there is a tremendous need for foster homes. All you need is a bathroom or an unused guest room. Kittens are taken from the field and evaluated by our medical coordinator. If kittens need to see a vet, CCA arranges the visit with the foster parent’s schedule and we pay for the visit. We provide foster parents with what they may need: Food, toys, litter and litter boxes, medicine like Pyrantel (a broad spectrum wormer).

If you need to leave for vacation, we will provide respite for your kittens. In fact, we welcome homes that only want to do periodic respite! When kittens are two pounds (about 8 weeks), we arrange for them to go to a clinic to be vaccinated and spayed and neutered. We then return them to you. The next step is for one of our partners to take them and adopt them into their “forever homes.”

If having kittens in your home is not feasible, we have other needs that may be interesting. Social media your thing? We put out a periodic Mewsletter that we could use help with. Are you a Facebook expert? You could help us. Interested in going into schools to help educate the next generation about the importance of spaying and neutering all pets? How about attending local Chamber of Commerce events, or becoming an ambassador for CCA by becoming a Rotary member?

If you’re interested in trapping, we will train you and provide you with traps. Periodic transport? We need folks with cars large enough to accommodate several traps and carriers to transport cats and kittens to the vet clinic and back — not every week, but once a month. We need folks who are willing to drive to Staunton, Va., to pick up low-cost cat food we pay for, and then pass on to our caretakers. Fundraising? Lend us a hand. Make a gift basket, help with publicity, record a public service announcement for us, write an article.

CCA tends to attract folks who are retired. Makes sense, right? Retired people have flex schedules. But even if you work full time, and have children, if this is a cause you are passionate about, we can find one of those extra pieces that works for you and your family.

Look us up; check us out. We work hard, we do good work. The volunteers at Community Cat Alliance need your help. The abandoned and stray “community cats” out there who have been dumped, and born in the field need you even more. Think about it. Do it.

And if you can’t help us with any of the above a $20 donation will go further than you think. Go to www.communitycatalliance.org. Thank you

Youngkin approves changes to animal waste rules aimed at reducing groundwater pollution

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Approval comes despite disagreement over older earthen lagoons

by Charlie Paullin

Virginia is on track to implement updated rules for animal waste created by certain farming operations, despite disagreement on how to regulate older earthen lagoons that pose a greater risk of releasing pollutants into groundwater.

Wednesday, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved the regulation changes for farmers who confine cows, pigs and more for 45 days or more within a year for dairy, eggs and meat production, as well 
as slaughtering. 

Youngkin’s approval comes after the citizen-member State Water Control Board OK’d at a June 25 meeting the general permit for 108 animal feed operations in the state, meaning the rules in the one permit applies to all the operations. The current general permit is set to expire Nov. 15, so the revisions will take effect Nov. 16 for another 
10-year period. 

Waste from the animals can be stored in containers, concrete structures, or earthen lagoons, which are ponds of manure that use natural and chemical processes to treat it. The operators can treat the waste, recycle it or apply to their land as compost, among other purposes.

The rules are part of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s program to regulate pollution discharges to prevent harm to the environment. One concern with animal waste is a potential to release nitrogen into groundwater that can feed into waterways leading to the Chesapeake Bay, which state and federal partners are struggling to clean up.

“We are focused on nitrogen discharges to groundwater, but bacteria would also be of concern,” said Patrick Fanning, Virginia staff attorney with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in an email to 
the Mercury.

There are also new requirements for nutrient management plans, an analysis for nitrogen and tools to determine a 100-year flood plain, or areas where groundwater can get inundated following heavy rain from intense storms likely to happen once every century and can lead to more groundwater connections that may flow up to the surface.

Some farmers had raised concerns over costs to any changes, said Betsy Bowles, DEQ animal feeding operations inspector. But other farmers were in support of the new rules, which incorporate previously less enforceable guidance on conditions for closing a waste 
storage device. 

After receiving feedback from farmers and environmental groups, which primarily wanted more monitoring, DEQ didn’t make any changes to the rules, which were presented to the public in their final form for the first time at the 
June 25 meeting.

The Virginia Farm Bureau spoke at that meeting in support of the rules. The only other commenter, Fanning, with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, called DEQ’s decision to not make one change, “a bad take and a bad interpretation of 
the law.”

The Bay Foundation, on behalf of several other organizations, submitted 10 requests, including requiring one groundwater monitor above and two groundwater monitors below earthen lagoons that were made before 1998. Those lagoons were grandfathered into regulations, and made without the more stringent requirements in place now, Fanning said, meaning “these are the lagoons that are most likely to be discharging 
to groundwater.”

Bowle’s said DEQ interpreted the law to mean that monitoring can only be required if there is already monitoring in place, 
Bowles added.

“Our understanding of the law, for being able to require more groundwater monitoring is if they are already monitoring but there is a change that we need to increase from one every three years to more frequent,” Bowles said. 

But Fanning, in his comments to the board said DEQ’s interpretation “is simply not true,” pointing out the law states DEQ “may include in the permit or nutrient management plan more frequent or additional monitoring of waste, soils or groundwater as required to protect state waters.”

And, he added: “How would DEQ ever know if there is a problem if they’re not requiring monitoring?”

Fanning sought guidance from the Attorney General’s office, but Ross Phillips, senior assistant attorney in the OAG, sided with DEQ, and certified the rules.

Tony Banks, senior assistant director of the agriculture, development and innovation department with the Virginia Farm Bureau, said in an interview with the Virginia Mercury, his organization is supportive of DEQ’s interpretation of the law and that the older lagoons were built to engineering standards of the time.

“If we had an issue that would’ve become apparent at this point,” Banks said.

DEQ spokeswoman Irina Calos added the agency is “unaware of any complete lagoon failures at permitted farms in Virginia.” One time, during the 2004 
Hurricane Gaston, floodwaters overtopped a lagoon that was in compliance with 
the permit.

“In general, DEQ does visual site inspections of waste storage structures to include lagoons every three years but can and does inspect sites more frequently as needed,” Calos said, adding that if there are concerns with noncompliance DEQ can require a permittee to obtain an individual permit with groundwater 
monitoring requirements.

Charles Paullin covers energy and environment for the Mercury. He previously worked for Northern Virginia Daily in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. This article originally appeared in the Virginia Mercury.